Michael Meechin ’24EdD
Michael Meechin graduated with his doctorate in educational leadership in 2024. Meechin expressed his gratitude for the experiences he had in the UCF College of Community Innovation and Education and shares why he recommends taking this step into higher education to anyone who wants to positively impact their communities.
What was your UCF experience like?
As a full-time school leader, starting at UCF gave me a bit of apprehension. However, when I began the doctorate in education learning journey, I was comforted by the fact that this program is designed with working professionals in mind.
That’s not to say it's easy — it’s not — but so much of the work I completed in the doctoral program aligned with the work I was doing as a school leader, and my time at UCF allowed me to refine and enhance the skills that I needed to make an impact in my school and district.
How did you cultivate connections and build professional relationships throughout your program?
Networking is an essential aspect of the school leadership role. At UCF, I was afforded the opportunity to connect with the faculty members at such deep levels. The nature of the work allows you to build relationships and supports that do not exist outside of a setting like the doctorate in education program.
You get access to world-renowned experts in their fields with the faculty of UCF’s Department of Educational Leadership and Higher Education. With small class sizes, your faculty is there to provide support all along the way. They get to know you beyond your coursework.
The cohort model is vital in building bonds between classmates who serve in their communities as educational leaders. The bonds with your classmates and colleagues become so strong as you progress through the program — and you will be able to hang on to this professional learning network long after graduation.
Would you recommend UCF to other potential graduate students?
Absolutely. I am not going to lie — it’s a leap. But it is one that you must take. The doctoral program allows school leaders to take on the lens of researcher and dig deep into a topic that will impact your local school, local district, state and maybe even the world!
It is an incredible opportunity to challenge yourself to become an even better version of yourself.